Heart Choices: Does Love Change Your Perspective? -->

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Does Love Change Your Perspective?



Does love really change your perspective? Do you live a life of love?

I think it's easy to love people who are similar to us.

You know, people who view the world as we do. Maybe it's people in your church or your closest friends or just maybe ...your family (or not).

But how do you view people who are not like you? What about people who may have a completely different view of life from you? Now, I'm not saying that you should invite any person you meet on the street into your home but do you look beyond the exterior and ever wonder what's going on in that person's life?

Several days ago, I read Andy Sernovitz's blog post about how to make a viral video. He interviewed Rhett and Link who are two life long friends from North Carolina. They performed at a recent BlogWell conference.

And if you're not familiar with Andy Sernovitz, he's the author of a very popular book called Word of Mouth Marketing. BTW, it's a great practical how-to book on spreading word of mouth and ...Andy's a very nice guy too.

But, back to Rhett and Link's viral videos. These two guys create videos with no money and yet ...they've had over 20 million views on YouTube!

I posted one of their funny videos several days ago about ordering healthy when you go through the fast food drive-in. If you haven't seen it, you can link to it here.

But as I watched the following video, I had much to ponder about how I live my life. Do I look at people and ever wonder who they really are?

I grew up in New York so I'm very familiar with the food vendors. But I don't think I ever interacted with the vendors in the way that Rhett and Link did. I learned much from watching this.


Do you ever wonder about people like Jack, Amyn, Andrea, Sam, Abdul, Danny and Mohammed? What are their dreams? Who are they?

Did you notice how awkward the hugs were at first? Poor Andrea appears to be a typical New Yorker (sorry about the stereotype but remember I come from NY too). She's apprehensive about hugging a stranger. But I really think ...she likes it!

What about the vendors you interact with in your life? The grocery store clerk or the waitress at Applebee's or dare I say ...the person at the fast food drive-through (no way Fitness Friday readers).

Would it change your perspective if you truly lived out what you claim to believe? I'm going to end this post with the words of Jesus:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22: 37-40 (NIV)

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Debbie Petras
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23 comments:

  1. Oh Debbie, I could cry. That was silly, but point well taken. Very convicting ... very sweet.

    Thank you for sharing!
    Beth

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  2. This vid reminds me of when I lived in London. There are a lot of people on the streets trying to make money - their reasons are various but also all the same - to improve their lives. Everyone wants a better life. That's why people immigrate, work, study, have families etc. I think even though we all have different ways of living and different beliefs, we all still want the same thing - happiness.

    I think it's great that these guys have brought positive attention to the street venders. And I'm grateful that you have brought in to mine.

    Cheers

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  3. Sweet video :)

    And great post. I even love the title:

    "Does Love Change Your Perspective?"

    What a question! Thanks for making me pause and ponder it :)

    Blessings,
    Kate :)

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  4. Debbie,

    I just love this. There's nothing more to say.

    Jackie

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  5. Great Video! I know there are many times when I need to slow down and take the opportunities to share with people rather than keeping to my schedule.

    Thanks for the sweet reminder!

    Love,
    Julie

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  6. I enjoyed the video and as you already know I'm a fellow New Yorker born and raised and so I can relate not just to the video but your comment about "stereotyping". The truth is that hugging and being friendly came natural for me but what I picked up growing up in NY was moving fast and talking fast. Both of which I still do and it drives hubby crazy sometimes.

    I agree with you about really paying attention to people Debbie and seeing "them" through God's eyes. Our love walk must extend beyond those we know and enjoy keeping company with. At times it's hard but it's a great witness. My greatest times of sharing with people is in the Grocery Store. I love talking to people I don't know and seeing life through their eyes and then hopefully showing them CHRIST if they don't already know Him.

    But I don't always love as I should. Sometimes I'm just not aware and other times it's hard to love the unlovable and so I remind myself that GOD LOVES ME AND I AM NOT ALWAYS THE MOST LOVEABLE!! THAT'S FOR SURE!

    Thanks for sharing dear sister. I love your heart.

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  7. I came over from Rachel's blog. Your comment made me want to come check out your blog. I liked watching this video. I agree with the others that this is truly a convicting video! Thanks for sharing!

    In Him,
    Nicole

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  8. Thanks for sharing this dear.

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  9. I do try to be kind to people out in the workforce, especially those in waitstaff positions. But sometimes you have to remind yourself to be nice. thank-you for the reminder today.

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  10. We were just talking about that in our Bible Study group last week. How to love with abandon. Brought up a lot of ideas, but a popular one was loving others like we want to be loved.
    When I am in NY I am totally shocked when people KISS you. I am from Colorado. We don't do that here (o:

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  11. Debbie,

    That was great. It falls right in line with the book I have been studying with some other women, The Tangible Kingdom. Its all about caring for others. Thank you for sharing this and for visiting my blog today.

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  12. Hi Debbie, I had to check out your blog since you stopped by and checked out my beginnings of a blog. Your blog looks great. I can see I have a whole lot of work to do, in order to get my blog up to speed.

    Best of luck,

    Keith

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  13. The video at the drive thru was hilarious...do I need a song to sell MILA???lol

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  14. Debbie,

    We just came from a trip to NY/NJ and let me just tell you, we were taken back from the 'pace' and how people were too busy to acknowledge you or be friendly. Everyone kept making remarks about my 'gentle' tones and 'calm' nature.

    So seeing this made me think of our experiences and the talks we had about the differences between north/south and how the people embrace one another. It seemed like people were so busy up there that they could barely be kind to one another...it was stressful!

    I liked the video ... very true ... we need to take the time to know who we are dealing with and be kind.

    Blessings to you!

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  15. Hilariously profound! Love never fails!! Great post, Dana

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  16. I think about this a lot. I have to make a conscious effort to do this at times. Thank you for the reminder.

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  17. I am moved to tears. Thanks for reminding me that no one is "just a..." They have lives and they matter! Thanks for sharing and encouraging me to continue to go the extra mile when possible to let people know I care.

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  18. that's very wonderful post^-^
    That's one thing that I'm impressed with my husband. He's very friendly and initiates small talk to almost everybody he encounters and he seemed so sincere. I always thought we lived in a small town when I first arrived here. It seemed as though he knew everybody in the market, bank, church and even on some restaurants... and well, they knew us:))
    That attitude had really changed my perspective. Sometimes, those strangers that we met turned out to be a big surprise:))
    the video is great too...

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  19. I'd say love definitely changes our perspective. I have cared for people with opposing viewpoints that were totally different from me. I think the real difference is if both people are open minded and respect each others' differences. I don't know that I always pay attention to vendors or customer service people, sometimes because I'm too lost in my own head of thoughts, but I always do my best to be polite and friendly, because it doesn't matter who they are underneath it all, it just matters that they are people.

    ~ Kristi

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  20. Debbie,

    You are right - I LOVED the video.

    I have always been the one to go through the toll booth to say hello - with a smile. And mean it. I do enjoy asking everyone I meet how they are - not because it is the nice thing to do - but I pray God opens the door for me to share about His love.

    I have been like this since a child. I am shy too which is odd. But I like to have heart to heart connections with people. I want to "know" you. Not just see you and hear you - but know you.

    I think that is what has helped me fall so deeply in love with Jesus. I didn't want to just see Him and know about Him - I wanted to feel Him just like my children want to feel me there with them.

    This video speaks about who we are meant to be - loving at all times. Even when it is uncomfortable and with those we don't really know.

    So when I say I love you - I mean it from the deep parts of me - because you have touched me there - right where He lives and speaks the same kind of love!

    I am so blessed getting to know you and pray God opens many doors for us to spend time here together this side of heaven!

    Wishing you a blessed day!
    Love,
    Jill

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  21. Sweetie I have a little something for you over at Sharing Life with Lisa. I love you.

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  22. Oh to see others through the compassionate eyes of Jesus.

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